The reviewer found some stories in the anthology enjoyable, such as those by Isaac Bashevis Singer and Pamela Sargent, but criticized others for being stereotypical and culturally insensitive, particularly regarding Jewish and Black characters. The collection was deemed outdated and problematic, with the final story by Harlan Ellison being particularly offensive due to its handling of sexual violence.
The reviewer approached this anthology with caution, aware of its reputation but driven by a desire to explore Jewish science fiction and fantasy. While a few stories stood out positively, such as the thought-provoking piece by Isaac Bashevis Singer and the stylistically strong 'Gather Blue Roses' by Pamela Sargent, many others fell short. The reviewer noted that several stories were marred by outdated stereotypes of Jews and other ethnic groups, particularly African Americans, which made for uncomfortable reading. The cultural insensitivity and lack of authenticity in portraying Jewish traditions were also criticized, with some stories feeling like they were written by those only vaguely familiar with the culture. The final story by Harlan Ellison was singled out as particularly offensive, with its casual treatment of sexual violence and misogynistic undertones leaving a negative impression. Overall, the reviewer felt that while there were some gems, the anthology was largely outdated and problematic, reflecting the biases of its time and editor.
Quick quotes
Several people warned me this was a bad anthology, but there are so few Jewish SFF anthologies that it's easy to be a completionist
The I. B. Singer story was a striking if brief take on the afterlife, and the Asimov one was surprisingly Dickian for its time and topic.
Also, the last story in the collection was simply revolting - not because Harlan Ellison tried to add all kinds of rather immaturely disgusting details, there is an entire specific brand of white-dude SFF that does this all the time -; but because there is such an incredible amount of lighthearted joking about the protagonist having been raped.